Help Please!!!

[Sumippi]

Originally Posted by Bpac

Hi there, I live in Canada and my son was given a shirt as a gift but he doesn't want to wear it unless he knows what it says...

It is written in Japanese and I was wondering if anyone would please tell me what it means?

Thank-you so much

Mark

I'd wear that T-shirt too. (^o^)　I wouldn't tattoo that though.

[KyleGoetz]

Originally Posted by masaegu

And so would I. It's pretty cool.

I have been wondering about this for many years but when there is writing on a T-shirt, Westerners seem to take it as a message even if it is in a foreign language they cannot read. Japanese usually do not as they only take it as design when it is in a foreign language.

Has anyone noticed this difference?

Yes, which perfectly explains why I criticize Americans wearing Japanese message T shirts (and tattoos) without knowing the message for sure, but I don't criticize Japanese for the same thing. Our mentality in America is to have a cool message. I have always thought Japanese used foreign languages more for aesthetics than for the message itself. Hence Engrish.

I mean, it's not for want of access to skilled English speakers that the richest pop stars in the country have erroneous English in their songs!

You summed up very accurately the phenomenon.

[TBox]

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

Yes, which perfectly explains why I criticize Americans wearing Japanese message T shirts (and tattoos) without knowing the message for sure, but I don't criticize Japanese for the same thing.

I have this horrible temptation to print up a t-shirt, "意味が分からん！かっこいいんだろう！" in as flashy a font as I can manage now. I bet it would sell. Especially if it had some random guy doing something outrageous on it.

[OHayou]

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

Yes, which perfectly explains why I criticize Americans wearing Japanese message T shirts (and tattoos) without knowing the message for sure, but I don't criticize Japanese for the same thing. Our mentality in America is to have a cool message. I have always thought Japanese used foreign languages more for aesthetics than for the message itself. Hence Engrish.

I mean, it's not for want of access to skilled English speakers that the richest pop stars in the country have erroneous English in their songs!

You summed up very accurately the phenomenon.

A strange statement which seems almost inverted if you think about it.

A Japanese person wearing an incorrect English shirt, tattoo, etc would be far more likely to happen upon someone who would recognize the error as would an American with an incorrect Japanese shirt, tattoo, etc.

I bought a tea cup in Kyoto last year that is really neat and has Kanji all over it. I have no idea what it means and to be honest I'm afraid to post it because it might say something stupid and ruin the whole "mystique" of it. lol

Originally Posted by TBox

I have this horrible temptation to print up a t-shirt, "意味が分からん！かっこいいんだろう！" in as flashy a font as I can manage now. I bet it would sell. Especially if it had some random guy doing something outrageous on it.

lol. I purchased a bunch of shirts in Japan that had "half-right" English. They're a blast.

One is a Beach Shirt with a Sun and Waves and says:
"We keep riding the crest of wave even if there is a very painful thing."

One is a very cool (and great feeling) "racer" type shirt with a dragon/cool logos on the back and on the front:
"Two-wheeled motor vehicle powered by an engine."

They're cool looking shirts with a funny saying on it.

[KyleGoetz]

Originally Posted by OHayou

A strange statement which seems almost inverted if you think about it.

A Japanese person wearing an incorrect English shirt, tattoo, etc would be far more likely to happen upon someone who would recognize the error as would an American with an incorrect Japanese shirt, tattoo, etc.

I bought a tea cup in Kyoto last year that is really neat and has Kanji all over it. I have no idea what it means and to be honest I'm afraid to post it because it might say something stupid and ruin the whole "mystique" of it. lol

Depends on where in Kyoto you bought it. Tourist area or local area?

lol. I purchased a bunch of shirts in Japan that had "half-right" English. They're a blast.

One is a Beach Shirt with a Sun and Waves and says:
"We keep riding the crest of wave even if there is a very painful thing."

One is a very cool (and great feeling) "racer" type shirt with a dragon/cool logos on the back and on the front:
"Two-wheeled motor vehicle powered by an engine."

They're cool looking shirts with a funny saying on it.

I own one that says "Hippopotamus Brother it takes care when playing YEAH THANKS!" and another that says REFLECT BABOON and one for my brother that says "This elephent, do not disturb he is under a meal"

[OHayou]

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

Depends on where in Kyoto you bought it. Tourist area or local area?

It's a neat cup with a lot of kanji written on it. I am not going to wimp out and ask for a translation and besides I foresee a response like "try to decipher it first before asking us to translate it" and so I will!

Originally Posted by KyleGoetz

I own one that says "Hippopotamus Brother it takes care when playing YEAH THANKS!" and another that says REFLECT BABOON and one for my brother that says "This elephent, do not disturb he is under a meal"

lol @ hippopotamus brother. That's hilarious and I'm sure elicits a great response when worn out. I am going back to Japan in just a few weeks and hopefully will snag a few shirts as good as that one. They're great conversation starters in bars.